creative roots

(detail of crayola drawing by former pediatric patient, maureen b., ca. 1995) that is the theme for this week's studio friday... where did your creative roots come from? i honestly do not know... my mom used to make clothes for me & my sis jo... like the little number i am wearing in the above pic (i'm sitting next to my mom & i think i was about 3)... she got the sewing bug from her mom (my maternal grandmother, who was a seamstress) however, unfortunately, i did not inherit the sewing gene my mom & grandma had... i mean, i can hand-stitch & do a little embroidery here & there... BUT i have never sewn CLOTHES, much less entire wardrobes... & i am not sewing machine savvy, like they were! also, my mother crotchets & knits! i {sigh} used to know how to crotchet (but my brain has permanently blocked that ability out!) & i cannot, for the life of me, figure out how to knit, even with those "fool-proof" teach yourself knitting kits! i think i am hopeless case! oh how i do admire & envy those who have the GIFT & natural ability to use a sewing machine properly & who can also KNIT! i have never seen either parent draw or paint... (which are two things i absolutely enjoy!)

they both were too busy working & raising 5 chitlins...

they didn't have time to play or fool around...

they busted their humps to provide for us...

you know, in pursuit of the american dream...

my father especially>>> i remember he was always working... & when he was not working, he liked to putter around the house (yard work is his thing!), running marathons (yeah, he's been in countless fun runs & even 6+ marathons in chicago... i've lost count how many he's run in!), he is more of a physical active-type person than someone who sat down & created a piece of art or craft... i do think, though, i inherited his "green thumb" as i am a freak for gardening {smile}... & i believe he got this from his mother (paternal grandma), who was into medicinal herbs & such... i remember meeting my paternal grandma for the first time (i was 9) & she grew her own tobacco & rolled her own ciggy right in front of us! (the late) grandma p. was a TRIP (God bless her soul)! so you see, i don't know wherein my creative roots lie... all i know is that i have this deep-seated need to CREATE... to express my heart's desires, my hopes & dreams, & to follow my bliss... i guess my roots begin with ME.